Home to the National Fruit Collections, charity Brogdale Collections is encouraging businesses to do their bit for the local community, farming heritage and environment with an outdoor volunteering day at its Faversham farm.
With more than 3,000 fruit tree varieties, the 150 acres of beautiful orchards including cherry, plum, apple, pear and quince is the perfect location for social action days, team building or volunteering. Staff can choose from activities such as fruit picking, thinning apples or tree pruning, to name a few.
All sessions are supervised by trained, knowledgeable staff and provide the perfect opportunity to improve staff social, leadership and teamworking skills while making a local social impact.
Reliant on income from its fruit and juice sales, business volunteering efforts can directly support the charity’s work, ensuring public access to The National Collections and education on fruit heritage and history.
Sara Smile, operations manager at Brogdale, explains the benefits of the corporate volunteering days,
“A day spent volunteering at Brogdale ticks so many boxes for businesses. It’s a practical way to fulfil an organisation’s social responsibility aims and support their local community.”
“What’s more, getting staff away from their usual work environment and out into the great outdoors can do wonders for morale and mental health. It’s also a fantastic way to learn new skills, together.”
“In return for all the hard work and fresh air, businesses will receive refreshments and lunch – and in harvest season, go home with as much fruit as they can carry!”
Seasonal volunteering activities include:
- February – winter pruning
- May & June – seasonal fruit thinning
- July – cherry picking
- August – plum picking
- September & October – apple, pear and quince picking
- November – winter pruning
To find out more about volunteering opportunities, please click here
